The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in 1974 to promote energy security and provide authoritative analysis for its member countries and beyond. Energy statistics are at the heart of the work of the IEA. Over the years, with input from statisticians all around the world, the IEA has gained recognition as the world’s most authoritative source for energy statistics.
Energy statistics are meant to be used. They monitor changes in energy
production and use, inform debate, and provide wider understanding, including giving countries sharper insights into their energy transitions. In Key World Energy Statistics (KWES), we highlight key facts and trends from across the vast number of datasets the IEA produces to provide everyone with a clear view of energy systems and markets. In addition to data on specific fuels and energy balances, KWES also contains other important information related to energy transitions, including energy security, efficiency, prices, CO2 emissions and public RD&D expenditures. Reflecting the IEA “Open Doors” policy, the geographic coverage is broad, including data on the whole “IEA family” and beyond.
The challenges associated with the development and transformation of our energy systems are considerable, and for this reason I hope that these statistics will not only inform but also help policy makers and others make wise decisions to ensure our energy is produced and consumed in a secure, affordable, efficient, and sustainable manner. As I like to say, data always wins. It brings the “state of play” of our energy systems into sharp focus. This has never been more true than it is today, with the world economy undergoing significant structural change as a consequence of Covid-19. I would therefore like to thank the whole team in the IEA Energy Data Centre, under the outstanding leadership of Nick Johnstone, for their work in making sure we all have the data we need to gain a comprehensive understanding of energy today so that we can better plan for tomorrow.
Dr. Fatih Birol
Executive Director, International Energy Agency
